Checking and unchecking device



(No Model.)

B. A. BLAKEMORE. CHECKING AND UNGHEGKING DEVICE.

No. 530,005. Patented Nov. 27, 1894.

TH: uon'ms PETERS co, PHOTO-LITHO., msumcron u c BENJAMIN A. BLAKEMORE, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

CHECKING AND UNCHECKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,005, dated November 27, 1894.

Application filed March 16, 1894. Serial No. 03,90 (No model.)

To and whom it may concern: W

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. BLAKE- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Staunton, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Checking and Unchecking Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to attachments for harness and especially to devices for checking and unchecking the horse Without the necessity of alighting from the vehicle.

The invention has for its object the production of a device by which the operations of checking and unchecking are practically automatically performed, inasmuch as each operation is partially effected by a single manual act, 7;. e; a slight pull on an auxiliary line, and the remaining acts necessary to complete the operation are obtained by the action of the device itself.

A furtherobject of the invention is to avoid.

when the horse is in motion, and the invention also contemplates a simpleand efficient device of this character possessing advantages in point of inexpensiveuess and durability.

The invention consists in the construction, relative arrangement and operation of the several parts .of my improved device for checking and unchecking horses all of which will fully and clearly appear from a reading of the subjoined description taken in counec tion with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

In the said drawingsFigure 1 illustrates in perspective the application of my invention Fig. 2, a side elevation enlarged. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the parts in a different position and Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A denotes the harness saddle to which is secured in any suitable manner and centrally thereof,

a ring a which has a rearwardly extending lug a for a purpose to be presently explained.

The preferred method of securing the ring to the saddle is to provide a square shouldered shank which has a reduced screw threaded end for connection with a binding nut as shown.

B denotes the bridle, and O is an auxiliary line by which latter the operations of checking and unchecking are controlled.

D is a casing which is circular in cross section and tapering at its ends to facilitate its entrance in the eye. This casing can be made of wood, metal or other suitable substance, and is of comparatively small size.

(1 is a slot in the casing which extends to nearly the entire length thereof and is arranged horizontally, and receives a latch e which is nearly the length of the slot and is pivoted therein by means of a screw bolt f .which passes through it and the casing. A

spring g in connection with the latch and the bolt the same being coiled around the latter, operates to maintain a position of the latch at right angles to the length of the casing, and to one end of the latch is secured a cord or line h which is passed through an aperture d in the rear end of the casing as shown and is connected with the auxiliary line in ny suit able manner. This cord or line h when drawnrearwardly bya pull on the auxiliary line operates to move the latch within the slot or in line with the casing against the action of the coiled spring. At the end of the latch to which the cord or line is attached is a finger 6' arranged at such an angle with the latch as that when the bridle or check rein is slack and the casing is being drawn,

through the eye the outer side of the finger will engage the side of the eye and automatically move the latch within the slot; When however. the bridle or check rein is taut a pulling action in two directions is exerted on the casing when the latter is being drawn through the eye, and in this case the latch is moved in the slot by the cord or line it. When the casing has been drawn rearwardly a sufficient distance the auxiliary line is releasedand the latch acted upon by the spring resumes its normal position at right angles to the casing and abuts against the sides of the eye, and the horse is checked. To uncheck the horse the line is drawn rearwardly until the latch is within the slot and the casing is then free to move forward through the eye as shown.

Any suitable connection with the bridle may be made, but I prefer to employ a single check rein i which is secured within a recess d in the forward end of the casing, and carries at its other end a snap hook j which is connected to a loop or eye It having a smooth bearing surface for the bridle to permit a sufficient play for the latter.

Secured to the upper side and near the end of the casing by a screw or rivet Z is a leaf spring Z which extends forwardly and terminates at the forward end of the casing where it is arranged to move in a guide m. This spring when the parts are in a checking position operates in connection with the ring to prevent the rattling of the casing. In operation the ring depresses the spring and maintains its condition, and the spring having a constant tendency to resume its normal position it will be seen that all unnecessary movements of the casing in the ring are prevented. The normal position of the latch 7;. e. at right angles to the casing is determined by a stop h on the cord or line h or by pins at n, projectingthrough the slot in the casing. WVhen the parts arein their checking position their construction permits of a yielding freedom of movement to follow the motion of the animal.

The end of the auxiliary line may be secured to the rein or to any convenient part of the vehicle within reach of the driver, and to facilitate its connection a snap hook c is socured thoreto, and a slip noose made as desired and retained by the hook.

The tapered ends of the casing allow of its entering the eye from any position, and when in place the lug a operates as a support for the forward end of the casing.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A device for checking and unchecking horses, comprising a circular casing tapered at its ends and having a transverse slot, a latch centrally pivoted within the slot, a spring for turning said latch at right angles to the casing, and a line passed through the end of the casing and connected to one end of said latch, and adapted to turn the latch within the slot, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A device for checking and unchecking horses, comprising a circular casing tapered at its ends, and having a transverse slot, a latch centrally pivoted within the slot and carrying at one end a lateral finger as described, a spring for turning said latch at right angles to the casing, a line passed through the end of the casing and connected to said finger, in combination with a terret on the saddle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for checking and unchecking horses, and in combination with a terret on the saddle, and a casing havingaspring controlled pivoted latch adapted to engage the terret, an anti-rattling leaf spring secured at one end to the outer side of the casing and having its other end adapted to contact with the inner side of the terret, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iat'iix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. BLAKEMORE.

Witnesses:

W. T. NORTON, CHAS. A. BLAKEMORE. 

